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<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial>Hello:</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial> I am
forwarding the following BookShare newsletter as it has a number of items that I
thought would be of interest. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial>Regards,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial>Robert Jaquiss</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message -----
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
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<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=rjaquiss@earthlink.net
href="mailto:rjaquiss@earthlink.net">rjaquiss@earthlink.net</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, June 25, 2009 11:00 AM</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> The Bookshare Bulletin</DIV></DIV>
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<TD>Issue 3 :: Summer 2009 </TD>
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<DIV class=leftside>
<H4>Do You Twitter or Use Facebook?</H4>
<P>Follow “Bookshare” on <A
href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?Bookshare/fc3c3d5704/bea774c64d/4d9ddbb595">Twitter</A>
or <A
href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?Bookshare/fc3c3d5704/bea774c64d/c2035b15b0/uid=bookshare">Accessible
Twitter</A> and be ‘in-the-know’ about the latest happenings. </P>
<P>You can also become a fan of Bookshare through our new Facebook
page. <A
href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?Bookshare/fc3c3d5704/bea774c64d/dc8024201c">Join
us now</A>! </P></DIV>
<DIV class=leftside>
<H4>In This Issue</H4>
<P><STRONG>Educators’ Corner</STRONG> </P>
<UL>
<LI><A href="#story1">K-12 Stimulus Survey Generates New Ideas</A>
<LI><A href="#story2">Authorized User of the NIMAC</A>
<LI><A href="#story3">Is Your School Leading the Way to Accessible
Books?</A>
<LI><A href="#story4">Educational Conferences</A> </LI></UL>
<P><STRONG>Family Time </STRONG></P>
<UL>
<LI><A href="#story5">Transitioning from High School to
College</A>
<LI><A href="#story6">Make Summer Months Fun and Interesting!</A>
<LI><A href="#story7">Summer Book Picks for All Ages</A>
<LI><A href="#story8">Parent Conferences</A> </LI></UL>
<P><STRONG>Bookshare Highlights</STRONG> </P>
<UL>
<LI><A href="#story9">National Press Club Event</A>
<LI><A href="#story10">New Member Stories</A>
<LI><A href="#story11">Tell Us Your Story - Contest Winners</A>
<LI><A href="#story12">International Update</A>
<LI><A href="#story13">Volunteer Circle</A>
<LI><A href="#story14">Book Quality</A>
<LI><A href="#story15">Latest Stats</A> </LI></UL></DIV>
<DIV class=leftside>
<H4>Unsubscribe</H4>
<P>The Bookshare Bulletin was sent to you because you wished to
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href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?Bookshare/fc3c3d5704/bea774c64d/e4f11faaf4"
target=_blank>web site</A>. </P>
<P>If you no longer want to receive The Bookshare Bulletin, please
click the unsubscribe link at the bottom of this page. </P></DIV></TD>
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<DIV id=rightside>
<H2><A id=story1 title=story1 name=story1></A>Educator’s Corner</H2>
<H3>K-12 ARRA Survey Generates New Ideas – (American Recovery and
Reinvestment ACT) </H3>
<P class=byline>By Betsy Burgess </P>
<P>School districts have many ideas for stimulus funds, but here’s
one that’s well worth considering – services from Bookshare.
Bookshare is free for U.S. schools and students, that’s true;
however, there are many other worthwhile services Bookshare could
provide that we just can’t deliver for free, but that would qualify
for IDEA Part B stimulus funds. (Individual with Disabilities
Education Act) </P>
<P>To find out what school districts want from Bookshare, and to
help us decide about new offerings that would support long-lasting
improvements in special education, we conducted a survey in May and
June. Special Education Directors, Superintendents and Assistant
Superintendents of Schools participated. </P>
<P>The survey asked about use of funds, plans to obligate funds, and
topics for professional development in special education, among
other new offerings appropriate to Bookshare. </P>
<P>Bookshare’s role in special education is unique. It offers a
broad nonprofit perspective and works with many vendors to ensure
users have tools and training to take advantage of the Bookshare
library. From this perspective, Bookshare will be offering a mixture
of assistive technology products, professional development and other
requested services. Profit is not the motive; rather our goal is to
provide better training for teachers and better access to assistive
technology which leads to improved outcomes for students with print
disabilities. </P>
<P>Watch the Bookshare website in July for more details on new
offerings from Bookshare in conjunction with other partners that
support the goals of stimulus funds. In the meantime, would you like
the results of the survey? </P>
<P>Visit <A
href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?Bookshare/fc3c3d5704/bea774c64d/5aa1673d52">Contact
Us</A> and select ARRA (stimulus) Program from the menu list in the
field labeled: “My question is about.” </P>
<P class=btt>- <A href="#top">Back to Top</A> - </P>
<DIV class=divider></DIV>
<H3><A id=story2 title=story2 name=story2></A>Bookshare Named
Authorized NIMAC User in U.S. States and Territories</H3>
<P class=byline>By Valerie Chernek </P>
<P>To expedite the process of providing accessible versions of
textbooks to students with print disabilities, your state can name
Bookshare as an Authorized User or AU of the NIMAC. Here is the
current list of states that have named Bookshare as an Authorized
User: CA, CO, KS, MA, MD, MO, MT, NH, NY, OR, TN, VT, and Guam. Is
your state on the list? </P>
<P>What is the NIMAC? NIMAC stands for National Instructional
Materials Accessibility Center. It is a federally-funded, central
repository created by the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs
(OSEP) to hold U.S. K-12 digital textbook source files. U.S.
textbook publishers are required to submit files to the NIMAC when
the request is made in writing at the point of print book purchase.
The files can then be used to create a variety of specialized
formats for students with print disabilities. </P>
<P>This process helps to make certain that all K-12 students with
print disabilities receive timely access to required educational
textbooks according to the IDEA 2004 Law. (Individual with
Disabilities Education Act) </P>
<P>As an AU of the NIMAC, Bookshare supplements the work of other
state AU’s and can provide timely access to digital accessible
textbooks for students with qualified print disabilities and IEPs
(Individual Education Plan). A teacher or sponsor can request and
receive converted student-ready textbooks in accessible file formats
from Bookshare in less than two weeks. </P>
<P>In states that have not named Bookshare as a state AU, teachers
request textbooks through one of their state AU’s, who may still
assign the book to Bookshare for conversion. This turnaround process
will take longer, from one to two months depending on the complexity
of the book. </P>
<P class=quotation>“When we find a required digitized book in the
NIMAC, we make a special notation to request it from Bookshare.
Within a week, the books come back in a more reader-friendly format.
This is one of the real benefits of working with Bookshare,” said
Valerie Whitney, Special School District (SSD) Area Coordinator for
St. Louis County, MO and the Missouri Assistive Technology Project.
</P>
<P class=btt>- <A href="#top">Back to Top</A> - </P>
<DIV class=divider></DIV>
<H3><A id=story3 title=story3 name=story3></A>Is Your School Leading
the Way in Providing Books in Accessible Formats?</H3>
<P>The George Lucas Foundation, founded by the legendary filmmaker
and publisher of Edutopia magazine, is interested in creating a
video about U.S. schools that are leading the way in providing books
in accessible formats and using assistive technologies. We are
collecting the names of leading K-12 schools. </P>
<P>Tell us what your school is doing with accessible books and you
could be part of this historic video. Visit our website and complete
our <A
href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?Bookshare/fc3c3d5704/bea774c64d/764d9524ad">Contact
Us form</A> to let us know who you are and give a brief description
in the comments box about your K-12 school’s initiative to access
digital books using Bookshare. We will contact you in the fall to
discuss the plans for this media outreach. </P>
<P class=btt>- <A href="#top">Back to Top</A> - </P>
<DIV class=divider></DIV>
<H3><A id=story4 title=story4 name=story4></A>Educational
Conferences - Visit Bookshare Staff</H3>
<UL>
<LI>National Federation of the Blind (NFB), July 3-8 — Detroit MI
<LI>American Council of the Blind (ACB), July 4-11 — Orlando FL
<LI>LA Assistive Technology (LATI), July 15-17 — Baton Rouge LA
<LI>2009 AHEAD, July 20-25 — Louisville, KY
<LI>PA Transition Conference, July 23 — Penn State PA
<LI>Kansas AT Conference, July 30-31 — Kansas </LI></UL>
<P class=btt>- <A href="#top">Back to Top</A> - </P>
<DIV class=divider></DIV>
<H2><A id=story5 title=story5 name=story5></A>Family Time</H2>
<H3>Transitioning from High School to College </H3>
<P class=byline>By Cherie Miller </P>
<P>If you are a Member of Bookshare through an organization, (such
as your high school, a local library or the Department of
Rehabilitation), then the summer months are the best time to sign up
for an individual membership. That way you can take Bookshare to
your next school with you, and access your digital books anytime.
Thanks to the OSEP (U.S. Office of Special Education Programs)
award, an individual membership is free to college students. Just
like an unlimited library card, you can select and download books
independently using your individual password on the Bookshare
website. </P>
<P>Students under 18 will still need a parent or guardian’s
signature, but it’s easy to sign up. Ask your high school or
organization to help you with the paperwork or check it out on your
own at the Bookshare website: <A
href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?Bookshare/fc3c3d5704/bea774c64d/c98b54a3da">www.bookshare.org/about/membershipFAQ</A>
</P>
<H4>Next Steps – Higher Education Textbooks and Reading
Materials</H4>
<P>It’s important now to check in with the Disability Student
Services office at your new college during orientation or before
school starts to be sure that your reading accommodations are in
place at the beginning of your classes. Students often choose to
have both a college Bookshare membership, as well as an individual
membership so they can access digital books anytime and anywhere for
their studies and for their reading pleasure. Ask about Bookshare
membership and how it might benefit other university students with
print disabilities. </P>
<H4>Taking a Break from School? –6 Weeks to Re-register Your
Membership</H4>
<P>If you are taking a break from school, please note that you have
6 weeks to re-register as a non-student Member. </P>
<P>Contact <A href="mailto:groupaccounts@bookshare.org">Bookshare’s
membership department</A> to re-register. Qualified non-students pay
$75 the first year; ($25 one-time set up fee and $50 membership
fee.) $50 is the yearly membership fee. </P>
<P class=btt>- <A href="#top">Back to Top</A> - </P>
<DIV class=divider></DIV>
<H3><A id=story6 title=story6 name=story6></A>Make Your Child’s
Summer Months Fun and Interesting </H3>
<P class=byline>By Mario Oliveros </P>
<P>School’s out and kids are gearing up for plenty of summer fun.
Make sure that your child’s summer fun includes reading and enjoying
the simple pleasures of a good book. During the school year,
students are often too busy keeping up with their class assignments
to read merely for pleasure. Students tell us about the books they
love to read like Harry Potter, The Sisterhood of the Traveling
Pants, The Aesop for Children and the Twilight series about teen
vampires. One teacher wrote that her students read Maniac McGee by
Jerry Spinelli; a story about a boy from the east side of town whose
life experiences touched the hearts of many of her students. Perhaps
you’ll look for this book in the Bookshare library for your teen.
</P>
<P>Summer is the perfect opportunity to match your child’s interests
and hobbies and strengthen reading comprehension and fluency skills.
The Bookshare library offers over 50,000 digital books, including
newspapers, children’s literature, fiction, non-fiction and best
sellers. <A
href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?Bookshare/fc3c3d5704/bea774c64d/35fbd13ab4"><STRONG>Start
now!</STRONG></A> Talk with your child and do a summer reading book
search. </P>
<H4>Can’t Find the Book You Want? Request It</H4>
<P>Volunteers, partners, and the Bookshare staff work diligently to
get the books that our Members want to read. If you didn’t find the
title you searched for, <A
href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?Bookshare/fc3c3d5704/bea774c64d/19a045827c/sendInfoOn=Requesting">ask
for it</A>. </P>
<P>Remember that your child will need an individual Bookshare
membership to download books at home. If your child only has a
membership through school, please register your child now for an <A
href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?Bookshare/fc3c3d5704/bea774c64d/9b00eae17e">individual
membership</A> for anywhere, anytime reading all year round. </P>
<P class=btt>- <A href="#top">Back to Top</A> - </P>
<DIV class=divider></DIV>
<H3><A id=story7 title=story7 name=story7></A>Summer Reading Fun -
Pique Your Child’s Reading Interests</H3>
<P class=byline>Picks by Mario Oliveros </P>
<P><A
href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?Bookshare/fc3c3d5704/bea774c64d/4c2232a27f/returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9zZWFyY2g9U2VhcmNoJmtleXdvcmQ9SmFjayBQbGFuayBUZWxscyBUYWxlcyAm"><STRONG>Jack
Plank Tells Tales</STRONG></A>, by Natalie Babbitt (Ages
6-9)<BR>After spending years at sea, Jack comes to town to find a
new career. Is there any job that is right for an ex-pirate who is
no good at plundering, but loves to tell stories? </P>
<P><A
href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?Bookshare/fc3c3d5704/bea774c64d/a1ff122947/returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9zZWFyY2g9U2VhcmNoJmtleXdvcmQ9VGVkZCBBcm5vbGQgJg%3D%3D"><STRONG>Fly
High, Fly Guy!</STRONG></A>, by Tedd Arnold (Ages 6-9)<BR>When Buzz
and his family go on vacation, they don't want to take Buzz's pet,
Fly Guy, with them, but he joins them nonetheless. Though small, the
fly proves his mettle and saves the day with his flying skills. </P>
<P><A
href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?Bookshare/fc3c3d5704/bea774c64d/288766e580/returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9zZWFyY2g9U2VhcmNoJmtleXdvcmQ9SmVmZiBLaW5uZXkm"><STRONG>Diary
of A Wimpy Kid: Greg Heffley’s Journal</STRONG></A>, by Jeff Kinney
(Ages 10-12)<BR>Greg and his best friend, Rowley, adjust to middle
school, where they are undersized weaklings. When Rowley grows more
popular, Greg kicks off a chain of events that tests their
friendship. </P>
<P><A
href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?Bookshare/fc3c3d5704/bea774c64d/c3e7780401/returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9zZWFyY2g9U2VhcmNoJmtleXdvcmQ9c2Vla2VycyY%3D"><STRONG>Seekers:
The Quest Begins</STRONG></A>, by Erin Hunter (Ages 10-12)<BR>Three
young bears of different species--one black, one polar, and one
grizzly--travel on a perilous quest to the Northern Lights,
escorting a shape-shifting grizzly cub whose destiny will affect
them all. </P>
<P><A
href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?Bookshare/fc3c3d5704/bea774c64d/f1aef65842/returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9zZWFyY2g9U2VhcmNoJmtleXdvcmQ9TUFYSU1VTSBSSURFJg%3D%3D"><STRONG>Max
(Maximum Ride #5)</STRONG></A>, by James Patterson (Ages:
10-12)<BR>Maximum Ride and the other members of the Flock have
barely recovered from their last arctic adventure, when they are
confronted by the most frightening catastrophe yet. </P>
<P><A
href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?Bookshare/fc3c3d5704/bea774c64d/dd94502c22/returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9zZWFyY2g9U2VhcmNoJmtleXdvcmQ9dHdpbGlnaHQm"><STRONG>Twilight</STRONG></A>,
by Stephenie Meyer (Ages 12 and up)<BR>17-year-old Bella meets an
exquisitely handsome boy at her new high school, and realizes that
he is not wholly human. </P>
<P><A
href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?Bookshare/fc3c3d5704/bea774c64d/e681b131fe/returnPath=L3NlYXJjaD9zZWFyY2g9U2VhcmNoJmtleXdvcmQ9ZXZlcm1vcmUm"><STRONG>Evermore</STRONG></A>,
by Alyson Noel (Ages 12 and up)<BR>Since a horrible accident claimed
the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear
people's thoughts, and know a person's life story by touch.<BR></P>
<P class=btt>- <A href="#top">Back to Top</A> - </P>
<DIV class=divider></DIV>
<H3><A id=story8 title=story8 name=story8></A>Parent and
Organization Conferences: Visit Bookshare Staff</H3>
<UL>
<LI>Region 1 Parent TA (Technical Assistance) Center Conference,
June 15-17 — Providence, RI
<LI>Family Connect (NAPVI), July 17-19, Costa Mesa, CA
<LI>TA Alliance, July 22-24 — Milwaukee, WI
<LI>EKOM at Ross School, September 15 — Ross, CA
<LI>LDA of Kentucky 2009 Summer Conference, June 10 —
Shepherdsville, KY
<LI>Region 5 Alliance for TA Parent Conference, June 25-27 —
Denver, CO
<LI>National Federation of the Blind National Convention, July 3-8
— Detroit, MI
<LI>American Council of the Blind 2009 Convention, July 3-11 —
Orlando, FL
<LI>NAPVI's Families Connecting with Families 2009 International
Conference, July 17-19 — Costa Mesa, CA
<LI>Region 4 Parent TA Center Annual Conference, July 22-24 —
Milwaukee, CA </LI></UL>
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<DIV class=divider></DIV>
<H2><A id=story9 title=story9 name=story9></A>Bookshare
Highlights</H2>
<H3>National Press Club Event </H3>
<P class=byline>By Valerie Chernek </P>
<P>In April, we gathered in Washington D.C. at the National Press
Club to announce our partnerships with U.S. colleges, universities,
and publishers. </P>
<P>Read the <A
href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?Bookshare/fc3c3d5704/bea774c64d/cfdf686c66">latest
press releases</A> about our partnerships to grow the Bookshare
collection with legally scanned books and digital files. </P>
<DIV
style="MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 12px 16px; WIDTH: 130px; FLOAT: right"><IMG
alt="Jim Fruchterman"
src="http://proxy.pcdn.vresp.com/4ac057563/www.benetech.org/2008-07_nl/e-i/fruchterman_pressclub.jpg"
width=130 height=170>
<P class=caption>Jim Fruchterman </P></DIV>
<P>In this photo, Benetech CEO Jim Fruchterman is standing along the
National Press Club hall of fame adorned with photos of legendary
media people, politicians, presidents and celebrities. Jim and our
distinguished panel spoke to the press, the disability community and
government officials about the benefits of our new partnerships.
</P>
<P>Jim set the tone of our event when he told the gathering,<SPAN
class=quotation> “Digital media is the future for learners and
individuals with print disabilities. Working directly with book
publishers and universities, we have an extraordinary opportunity to
knock down the barriers and raise the floor of access to ensure that
all individuals have access to read print publications at the same
time.”</SPAN> </P>
<H4>Important Points of Jim’s Speech</H4>
<OL>
<LI>Bookshare is growing fast by harnessing the power of people,
organizations, schools, authors, volunteers and businesses to
lower the barriers for individuals with disabilities to access
print materials. Our educational goals are adding 100,000 books
and 100,000 Members by 2012. You can help us get there!
<LI>Eleven U.S. universities and colleges now provide legally
scanned books to Bookshare through our University Partnership
Program. We also have more than <A
href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?Bookshare/fc3c3d5704/bea774c64d/2bc145d4df">two
dozen publishers</A> contributing digital files to the collection.
</LI></OL>
<P>Joining Jim on the panel: Jim Marks, President Elect of the
Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) and Director
of Disability Services at the University of Montana; Eugene
Skonicki, a student Member of Bookshare and a recent graduate of the
Georgetown University Law Center where he co-founded the Disability
Law Society; and Allan R. Adler, V.P. for Legal and Governmental
Affairs at the Association of American Publishers (AAP). <BR></P>
<DIV
style="MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 12px 16px; WIDTH: 130px; FLOAT: right"><IMG
alt=""
src="http://proxy.pcdn.vresp.com/88b8a24eb/www.benetech.org/2008-07_nl/e-i/jim-marks.jpg"
width=130 height=170>
<P class=caption>Panelist, Jim Marks </P></DIV>
<P>Jim Marks spoke about the university partnership. His message
focused on cost savings and efficient use of federal dollars and
resources. Jim validated our Bookshare mantra, ‘scan once, share
many’ and talked about the compounding effect of our partners’
contributions to increase the quantity of books in the library. </P>
<P class=quotation>“In addition to building a substantial collection
of accessible books, this program can ease the burden and the
financial cost for university scanning operation. We can serve
thousands of students while saving our institutions time, resources
and tens of thousands of dollars in scanning costs,” said Marks.
</P>
<P>Eugene Skonicki talked about his individual membership and how he
uses the library for his graduate studies. </P>
<P>Allan Adler’s presentation pointed to concerns from the print
publishers’ perspective and the situation publishers face as digital
content expands. </P>
<P>All of our guests were excited about our new partnerships with
colleges, universities and publishers. <A
href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?Bookshare/fc3c3d5704/bea774c64d/17194c9bf1/i=58534;_hbguid=3c18711f-fa87-46e1-bb4e-b2cdc565ada0">Read
a featured story in e-Campus News</A>. </P>
<P class=btt>- <A href="#top">Back to Top</A> - </P>
<DIV class=divider></DIV>
<H3><A id=story10 title=story10 name=story10></A>New Member
Stories</H3>
<DIV
style="MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 12px 16px; WIDTH: 130px; FLOAT: right"><IMG
alt="Ashley Seymour"
src="http://proxy.pcdn.vresp.com/c60bbe5f0/www.benetech.org/2008-07_nl/e-i/Ashley-Seymour.jpg"
width=130 height=170>
<P class=caption>Ashley Seymour </P><IMG alt="Megan Krapfl"
src="http://proxy.pcdn.vresp.com/450d26f9c/www.benetech.org/2008-07_nl/e-i/Megan-K.jpg"
width=130 height=170>
<P class=caption>Megan Krapfl </P></DIV>
<P>Special thanks to Ashley Seymour, a college junior at University
of Michigan-Flint and Megan Krapfl, a 10th grader at Williamsburg
Junior/Senior High School, in Iowa for sharing their great stories
with us. </P>
<P>These student Members worked with us to prepare articles for
local and national news and magazines about their use of Bookshare.
<A
href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?Bookshare/fc3c3d5704/bea774c64d/0a3784f87a">Read
their stories</A>.<BR></P>
<P class=btt>- <A href="#top">Back to Top</A> - </P>
<DIV class=divider></DIV>
<H3><A id=story11 title=story11 name=story11></A>Tell Us Your
Bookshare Story – 2009 Member Contest </H3>
<P class=byline>By Inga Zukin </P>
<DIV
style="MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 12px 16px; WIDTH: 130px; FLOAT: right"><IMG
alt="Sofia Gallo"
src="http://proxy.pcdn.vresp.com/5446f99f0/www.benetech.org/2008-07_nl/e-i/Sofia-1-25-09.jpg"
width=130 height=170>
<P class=caption>Sofia Gallo </P></DIV>
<P>Twenty-two Bookshare Members sent us wonderful stories about how
their lives have transformed since they began reading books in
digital formats. We enjoyed hearing from you and reading your
stories about how Bookshare has made your reading experience more
memorable. </P>
<P>Selecting our finalists was tough, but we now have a grand prize
winner through our Member voting process. She is Sofia Gallo, who
wrote a story entitled, “Twilight at 2 a.m.” Sofia selected a Victor
Reader Stream by HumanWare as her grand prize. <A
href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?Bookshare/fc3c3d5704/bea774c64d/962b47be62">Check
out Sofia’s story</A> and all the stories written by our contest
finalists. </P>
<P>Thanks again for telling us your story! </P>
<P class=btt>- <A href="#top">Back to Top</A> - </P>
<DIV class=divider></DIV>
<H3><A id=story12 title=story12 name=story12></A>International
Update</H3>
<H4>Bookshare India</H4>
<P class=byline>By Vigi Dilip </P>
<P>Bookshare just launched its international program in India to
support some of the more than 10 million people with print
disabilities. While computers and the Internet are widely available,
less than 5% of the books are in accessible formats. Braille is
expensive and students with print disabilities often walk several
kilometers, braving the scorching summer heat or monsoons, to reach
a school where books will be read to them by sighted volunteers. Our
mission is to help students worldwide have a better quality of life
by providing them with easy access to educational and informative
books in accessible formats. </P>
<P>In the absence of disability laws that allow for books to be
produced in alternative formats for individuals with print
disabilities in India and other countries, Bookshare approaches
publishers directly to obtain permission to offer their books online
in the Bookshare library. We are pleased that we now have global
permissions from several publishers in India, including Orient
BlackSwan, Seasons Publishing, Oxford University Press and East West
Publications. We have also partnered with the DAISY Forum of India
to obtain content for our website. DAISY stands for the Digital
Accessible Information System. </P>
<P>In order to extend services to our India Members, Bookshare has
partnered with three NGOs (non-governmental organizations) in
different parts of India. These include Saksham Charitable Trust in
the North and the East, Xavier’s Resource Center for the visually
challenged in the West, and Worth Trust in the South. </P>
<P>Bookshare is also working in the UK, Canada, and South Africa. We
will continue to bring you more news about our International focus
in the coming months. </P>
<P class=btt>- <A href="#top">Back to Top</A> - </P>
<DIV class=divider></DIV>
<H3><A id=story13 title=story13 name=story13></A>Volunteer Circle –
NEW! Bound for Books e-Newsletter and Blog</H3>
<P class=byline>By Pavi Mehta </P>
<P>As always, we remain grateful for the support and unwavering
dedication of the Bookshare volunteers. We are excited about the
launch of our new e-newsletter, Bound for Books. </P>
<P><A href="mailto:volunteer@bookshare.org">Please send us an
email</A> to receive this newsletter. Bound for Books will bring our
volunteers the latest scanning and proofreading guidelines and
policy changes, while offering a view into the efforts and spirit
behind the people who make it all come together. The spring
issue now features an interview with Bookshare volunteer, Monica
Willyard. </P>
<P>We’ve also launched the Bound by Books blog. <A
href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?Bookshare/fc3c3d5704/bea774c64d/b16abc55ec">Read
it now!</A> </P>
<P class=btt>- <A href="#top">Back to Top</A> - </P>
<DIV class=divider></DIV>
<H3><A id=story14 title=story14 name=story14></A>Book Quality –
Reprocessing and Fixing Errors </H3>
<P class=byline>By Lindsie Verma </P>
<P>Have you noticed problems with books in READ:OutLoud or Victor
Reader Soft? In some cases, the problem is not with the software,
but with the book. We have a major initiative underway, including
reprocessing the entire collection, to bring the quality of all
books up to the highest standard. Reprocessing will fix some issues,
but we need your help. </P>
<P>In late 2008, we implemented a new feature on our website for
Bookshare users to provide direct feedback about the quality of the
books they download. When you select a book title and go to the
book’s information page, you’ll find a box in the upper right corner
called Quality Issues to report a book issue you encountered while
reading. Please report any errors you find. You’ll hear back from us
quickly as to when the errors will be corrected. </P>
<H4>Here’s how to report a book issue:</H4>
<P>Select “Report book quality issue” in the right hand corner of
each book page. A form will auto-generate with the basic information
about the book (title, author, etc.). Fields will also appear to
enter comments and contact information, which is kept anonymous.
Please note specific examples or pages that you are reporting about.
This information is helpful for us to assess book issues properly.
</P>
<P>Within 24 hours, a report is logged on our system and you can
check the status of your issue by going to
http://quality.bookshare.org or by selecting “See all reported book
quality issues” on the book’s download page. </P>
<P>Educational books with quality issues are fixed within one month.
Books of non-educational content are fixed within 2 months. Once a
book quality issue is resolved, we will contact you if you have
opted to receive notification. Thanks for helping us constantly
improve the quality of our books. </P>
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<DIV class=divider></DIV>
<H3><A id=story15 title=story15 name=story15></A>Bookshare Stats
</H3>
<UL>
<LI>We passed a major milestone this past month: 50,000 books
<LI>1592 volunteers worldwide contribute their time and talent
each week
<LI>More than 1000 books are added every month thanks to
volunteers, authors, publishers, universities, colleges and
production partners </LI></UL>
<P>Have a terrific summer! </P>
<P><STRONG>Sincerely,<BR>The Bookshare Team</STRONG> </P>
<P class=btt>- <A href="#top">Back to Top</A> -
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